thoughts on the 27/2.8 lens

[back alley]

fully realizing that the lens has not been released yet...

anyone think the 27 has a chance of besting the fuji 35?

i think it would be great if the pancake 27 was a hit...coupled with the 14, it would be a killer combo...one camera, 2 lenses...for life!

and of course, all the other fuji lenses on a shelf waiting for their unique talents to be needed/utilized!


i need to get out more...

 

[noimmunity]

anyone think the 27 has a chance of besting the fuji 35?

That 35 is sharp all across the frame. I wouldn't expect the 27 to be, but then again, that may well make for very pleasing images. That 40/2.8 Rollei Sonnar that you loved (and I still have) was pretty soft in the corners, but lovely as a whole image (the center is really sharp). I'd use the Fuji pancake for people, so I'd like it that way.

 

[NicoM]

I'm hoping that the 27mm will be just as good, or better than the 35mm! It'll be the perfect lens for my X-E1.

 

[NicoM]

This thread got me looking up photos of the 27mm and it is THIN! Can't wait!

 

[jsrockit]

anyone think the 27 has a chance of besting the fuji 35?...

Probably not. Pancakes are generally cheaper lenses with fewer elements, etc. The focus is on compact size above all else. That said, I doubt it'll be a bad lens at all based on Fujis other lenses. I can't wait for it to be released. This will be THE lens for the X series for my needs.

 

[back alley]

i think so as well.
the plan for me is both bodies with the 27 and 14 attached...will be my main kit...all other lenses will become utility players...

 

[f16sunshine]

I can't imagine that I will prefer the 27/2.8 over the x100s .
The x100s is still a more compact, stealthier, and faster combo.
For my needs I would put it (x100) next to the xpro1 and 35 or 14 mounted depending on the event.

 

[Simon]

I'm definately going to add the 27mm to my kit.

I currently have a X-E1 with a 8mm Samyang, 18mm, 18-55mm (just sold my 35mm as I never used it)

I'm keen on pancakes as the form factor is what I want plus the quality is far greater than I actually seek.

I think the 18 and the 27 will turn into my most useful lenses.

 

[jsrockit]

I can't imagine that I will prefer the 27/2.8 over the x100s .

I plan using both. Might be redundant, but I prefer the size of the X-Pro1 at times. I won't use them together though.

 

[back alley]

i like some of the shots i've seen with the 8mm and have thought about getting it, but i find the 14 hard enough to tame.
i like the size of the x100s...would be nice for carrying around...not sure about having it and the rx100 at the same time though.

 

[Simon]

i like some of the shots i've seen with the 8mm and have thought about getting it, but i find the 14 hard enough to tame.

Thats a good way to put it . . . yes, the 8mm is a specialised lens alright.

It has a 180 degree FOV so the warping on the edges is quite extreme.

I'm tending to crop images from the lens and use it's central area.

It does come in handy in tight spots though (see pic of inside '65 Mustang)

 

[corposant]

Probably not. Pancakes are generally cheaper lenses with fewer elements, etc. The focus is on compact size above all else. That said, I doubt it'll be a bad lens at all based on Fujis other lenses. I can't wait for it to be released. This will be THE lens for the X series for my needs.

My only counterpoint to this argument is: there are incredible lenses that exist which don't require numerous elements/groups to perform impressively. There are several 80mm medium format lenses (which are close in field of view equivalence to the Fuji 27mm) like the Hasselblad 80mm (the smallest in their lineup) or the Mamiya 7 80mm (same, and also not a TTL lens) which are not complex lenses by any stretch, but in reality want for nothing optically.

I don't think Fuji would bother developing a prime lens (and a specialty one at that, which is what I consider a pancake lens) that wouldn't be competitive with the rest of its lineup. There's a reason afterall that it's f/2.8. That's probably where the design limitations landed when they set out to design something small, yet sharp.

 

[back alley]

and 2.8 is just fine with me.
the fujis have excellent high iso image quality if need be.

 

[jsrockit]

My only counterpoint to this argument is: there are incredible lenses that exist which don't require numerous elements/groups to perform impressively. There are several 80mm medium format lenses (which are close in field of view equivalence to the Fuji 27mm) like the Hasselblad 80mm (the smallest in their lineup) or the Mamiya 7 80mm (same, and also not a TTL lens) which are not complex lenses by any stretch, but in reality want for nothing optically.

I don't think Fuji would bother developing a prime lens (and a specialty one at that, which is what I consider a pancake lens) that wouldn't be competitive with the rest of its lineup. There's a reason afterall that it's f/2.8. That's probably where the design limitations landed when they set out to design something small, yet sharp.

Good point. I guess what I was thinking is that the 35mm 1.4 from Fuji is so damn good it'll be hard for most of its lenses to compete. The pancakes I've used (non M ones anyway Canon 40mm, Nikon 45mm) cannot compete, so I was making a general assumption.

 

[FA Limited]

(non M ones anyway Canon 40mm, Nikon 45mm) cannot compete, so I was making a general assumption.

what's wrong with the Canon 40mm? seems like it does a good job

 

[Buzz40]

Whereas I make no claims of being a highly trained optics engineer, I have obsessively studied Erwin Puts' in-depth discussions on optical design and Leica lens evaluations. I have learned that the difficulties in designing faster lenses increase exponentially compared to slower designs. More light = many more problems to overcome. That, and smaller optics are generally easier to design as well. Having said that, I have high expectations that Fuji will have little trouble in producing a very high quality optic for a roughly 40mm equivalent lens with a f2.8 maximum aperture, compared to their beloved 35mm f1.4. Unless they opt for marketing it purely as a cheap and small alternative. I just hope their magic holds out for the 56mm f1.4, which is to be my bread and butter portrait lens.

 

[jsrockit]

what's wrong with the Canon 40mm? seems like it does a good job

I didn't say it didn't. The Fuji is just a great, great lens.